Ju Ju Wilson facts for kids

Ju Ju Wilson was born in 1960 in Mantinea Flats, a place in the northern part of Western Australia. She is an Aboriginal artist and a part of the contemporary Indigenous Australian art movement. Her Aboriginal name is Burriwee. She is known for her amazing art and her deep knowledge of her culture.

Ju Ju Wilson's Career

Ju Ju Wilson is a talented artist who creates paintings and prints. She is also a tour guide and a cultural advisor. This means she helps people learn about Aboriginal culture and traditions.

Expert in Bush Tucker

Wilson is an expert in bush tucker. This term refers to wild foods and medicines found in the Australian bush. She knows which plants are safe to eat and which can be used as medicine. She has even written booklets about these important subjects.

Didgeridoo Maker and Player

She also makes and plays the didgeridoo. This is a traditional wind instrument played by Aboriginal people. It makes a deep, vibrating sound.

Protecting Sacred Sites and Rock Art

Ju Ju Wilson is an expert on Aboriginal sacred sites and rock art. Sacred sites are special places that have deep spiritual meaning for Aboriginal people. Rock art refers to ancient paintings and carvings found on rocks.

Wilson believes it is very important to protect Indigenous culture and heritage. She also works to keep Australia's ancient rock art safe. She says that the land and the art have spiritual values. These values are connected to the environment around us.

She is worried that some of these ancient artworks have been damaged. Many of these artworks are found in places like Kununurra and the Mitchell Plateau in Western Australia. As an elder, she remembers visiting these sacred sites when she was younger. Sadly, some of these amazing examples of rock art can no longer be seen today.

Plant Knowledge

Wilson has also written about the medicinal uses of a plant called Dolichandrone heterophyla. This shows her deep understanding of traditional plant knowledge.

Television Appearances

Because of her knowledge and artistic skills, Ju Ju Wilson is often asked to appear on television shows. For example, in 2008, she was on the show Ray Mears Goes Walkabout on BBC Two. She shared her art and abilities with a wider audience.

Personal Life

Ju Ju Wilson is a mother of six children. She comes from the Miriwoong-Gajirrawoong group of people. This group lives in the Kimberley region. She went to school at Beagle Bay.

Art runs in her family! Four generations of her family are artists. Her maternal grandmother, her mother, and her daughter are all Aboriginal artists too.

Her Miriwoong name is Burriwee. She is very good with languages and can speak five different Aboriginal languages fluently.

Collections

Ju Ju Wilson's artwork is kept in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. This means her art is considered very important and will be preserved there for a long time.